A heterogeneous-structure facial mask for thermal and humidity regulation in cold environments
Wearing a mask can help prevent respiratory diseases. However, it remains challenging to simultaneously keep the face warm and humid while ensuring sufficient oxygen intake. Forced convective airflow during respiration reduces the heat exchange efficiency of current wearable masks, especially in cold environments. Here, we present MetaMask, a heterogeneous-structure mask that employs a synergistic strategy combining asymmetric radiation control with condensation-evaporation. MetaMask recovers 82.1 ± 0.7% of heat and 94.1 ± 1.1% of moisture from exhaled air to warm and humidify the inhaled air. In a - 20 °C environment, it raises the inhaled air temperature to 26.2 °C while maintaining adequate oxygen intake. MetaMask also provides anti-frost and UV protection. This design offers an effective solution for facial protection in extremely cold conditions.
Authors
- Yayun Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1213-9973)
- Yanrong Meng
- Jun Liang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7511-449X)
- Chong Hou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1975-0747)
- Ning Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1927-3784)
- Qingwen Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8081-786X)
- Ming Fu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7567-0410)
- Guangming Tao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1371-7735)
- Jingbo Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6609-5274)
- Yu‐Hsiang Hsieh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1616-8014)
- Min Ji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2258-599X)
- Hui Min Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2628-4676)
- W.G. Liang
- Xiao Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8469-637X)
- Huamin Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7760-1256)
- Wanlong Song (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6718-6844)
- Hongyang Shu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6808-8924)
- Jiaxin Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4110-8685)
- Gang Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1502-0330)
- Zihan Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5573-0751)
- Ping Hu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0747-915X)
- Hongtao Zeng
- Maiping Yang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2262-9251)
- Xuemei Fu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3371-6171)
- Jiawei Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7008-835X)
- Shiliang Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9524-1602)
- He Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9049-4080)
- Mingyue Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9033-4383)
- Ping Hong
- Mingxiang Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0131-2004)
- Weitao Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9028-278X)
Institutions
- Capital Medical University (CN)
- China University of Geosciences (CN)
- Hefei University (CN)
- Central China Normal University (CN)
- Suzhou Institute of Nano-tech and Nano-bionics (CN)
- Changzhou Vocational Institute of Textile and Garment (CN)
- Wuhan Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute (CN)
- General Administration of Sport of China (CN)
- Beijing Anzhen Hospital (CN)
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics (CN)
- Nanobionics (Brazil) (BR)
- Tongji Hospital (CN)
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Wuhan Sports University (CN)
- Beijing Sport University (CN)
- Tsinghua University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-11-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66489-y
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.52
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology
- Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics
- National Key Research and Development Program of China